#1
سپیده چو از تیره شب بردمید
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میان شب تیره اندر خمید
“When dawn broke forth from the dark night, the dark night receded and bent away.”
#2
منوچهر برخاست از قلب‌گاه
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ابا جوشن و تیغ و رومی کلاه
“Manuchehr arose from the center of the host, arrayed in mail, sword, and a Roman helmet.”
#3
سپه یکسره نعره برداشتند
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سنان‌ها به ابر اندر افراشتند
“The entire host raised a mighty roar, lifting their spearheads high into the clouds.”
#4
پر از خشم سر ابروان پر ز چین
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همی بر نوشتند روی زمین
“Full of wrath, brows heavily furrowed, they swept over the surface of the earth.”
#5
چپ و راست و قلب و جناح سپاه
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بیاراست لشکر چو بایست شاه
“Left, right, center, and flanks—the king arrayed the army as behooved a monarch.”
#6
زمین شد به کردار کشتی بر آب
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تو گفتی سوی غرق دارد شتاب
“The earth became like a ship upon the water; you would say it rushed toward drowning.”
#7
بزد مهره بر کوههٔ ژنده پیل
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زمین جنب‌جنبان چو دریای نیل
“They struck the brass gong upon the war-elephant's saddle; the earth quaked like the River Nile.”
#8
همان پیش پیلان تبیره زنان
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خروشان و جوشان و پیلان دمان
“Before the elephants, drum-bealers raised their clamor, while the war-elephants roared and raged.”
#9
یکی بزمگاه‌ست گفتی به‌جای
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ز شیپور و نالیدن کره نای
“You would say a feast-place had been laid, so loud was the blare of trumpets and brass horns.”
#10
برفتند از جای یکسر چو کوه
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دهاده برآمد ز هر دو گروه
“They moved from their ranks altogether like solid mountains; a tumultuous roar arose from both armies.”
#11
بیابان چو دریای خون شد درست
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تو گفتی که روی زمین لاله رست
“The wilderness became truly like a sea of blood; you would say wild tulips sprouted across the earth.”
#12
پی ژنده پیلان به خون اندرون
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چنان چون ز بیجاده باشد ستون
“The feet of the giant elephants sank into blood, looking like pillars fashioned from red carnelian.”
#13
همه چیرگی با منوچهر بود
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کزو مغز گیتی پر از مهر بود
“Total mastery lay with Manuchehr, for the world's heart was filled with love for him.”
#14
چنین تا شب تیره سر بر کشید
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درخشنده خورشید شد ناپدید
“Thus it continued until pitch night raised its head, and the shining sun vanished from sight.”
#15
زمانه به یک سان ندارد درنگ
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گهی شهد و نوش است و گاهی شرنگ
“Time remains not in a single state—sometimes it brings honey and sweet drinks, and sometimes poison.”
#16
دل تور و سلم اندر آمد به‌جوش
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به راه شبیخون نهادند گوش
“The hearts of Tur and Salm boiled over with wrath; they set their ears toward planning a night ambush.”
#17
چو شب روز شد کس نیامد به جنگ
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دو جنگی گرفتند ساز درنگ
“When night became day, no one came forth to fight; the two warriors adopted a strategy of delay.”